Systems and methods for delivering radiotherapy

ABSTRACT

A radiotherapy system and method for delivering radiotherapy are provided. In some aspects, the radiotherapy system includes beam director comprising a radiation source configured to generate radiation for irradiating a patient, the beam director having at least four degrees of freedom of movement. The radiotherapy system also includes a controller configured to operate the beam director to irradiate the patient in accordance with a radiation treatment plan, wherein the radiation treatment plan is generated based on a solution space determined by the at least four degrees of freedom of movement of the beam director.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

This invention was made with government support under R44CA183390, and R43CA183390 awarded by the National Institutes of Health. The government has certain rights in this invention.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates, in general, to external beam radiation therapy systems and methods, and more particularly to external beam radiation therapy systems and methods having a beam director with at least four degrees of freedom.

Conventional external beam radiation therapy, also referred to as “teletherapy,” is commonly administered by directing beams of ionizing radiation produced by a linear accelerator (“LINAC”) toward a defined target volume in a patient. Radiation dose with a specific profile can be built up in the target by shaping the beams into treatment fields using collimators and other devices, and irradiating the patient for certain amounts of time using the shaped beams. In preparing a radiation treatment plan, planning images, such as computed tomography (“CT”), are used to select beam configuration that optimize therapeutic effects and reduce radiation-induced side effects.

In addition, medical imaging can also be used concurrently with the delivery of radiation therapy in a technique called image-guided radiation therapy (“IGRT”). Using positional information from the images to supplement the radiation treatment plan, IGRT can improve the accuracy of the delivered radiation. This allows for radiation dose imparted to targeted regions to be escalated to achieve better outcomes, with reduced risk to healthy tissues.

Intensity modulated radiation therapy (“IMRT”) is an external beam radiation therapy technique that utilizes computer planning software to produce a three-dimensional radiation dose map specific to locations, shapes and motion characteristics target and non-target structures in a patient. To do so, IMRT utilizes multiple beams that may be independently controlled in intensity and energy. Specifically, each beam includes a number of sub-beams or beamlets whose individual intensity can be varied to modulate the beam. Using this technique, specific regions within a targeted tumor, as well as other target and non-target structures in the patient's anatomy, can receive different radiation dose intensities.

The quality of radiation therapy delivered to a patient depends at least in part upon the spatial arrangement and intensity modulation of beams. When beam orientations are optimized, the quality of therapy can be significantly improved. However, optimized plans often require non-coplanar beams, which can be difficult to deliver using conventional LINACs. This is because these machines utilize gantries that have only one degree of rotational freedom. To address this, treatment plans often include patient couch repositioning. However, coordinating gantry and couch motion, along with imaging, can complicate treatment and introduce the potential for significant problems. For example, collisions, patient movement and difficulties with monitoring of the patient using imaging, can interfere with treatment and lead to possible equipment damage and patient injury. In addition, mechanical constraints on couch and gantry movements only provide a limited number of additional beam orientations. In many cases, such limited beam configurations can prevent clinicians from reaching the optimal plan quality and therefore the best treatment option.

Therefore, there is a need for improved systems and methods for delivering radiotherapy treatment.

SUMMARY

A radiotherapy system and method for delivering radiotherapy are provided. Features and advantages of the present disclosures may be appreciated from descriptions below.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, a radiotherapy system is provided. The radiotherapy system includes beam director comprising a radiation source configured to generate radiation for irradiating a patient, the beam director having at least four degrees of freedom of movement. The radiotherapy system also includes a controller configured to operate the beam director to irradiate the patient in accordance with a radiation treatment plan, wherein the radiation treatment plan is generated based on a solution space determined by the at least four degrees of freedom of movement of the beam director.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for delivering a radiation treatment plan to a patient using a radiotherapy system is provided. The method includes generating, based on a dose prescription, a radiation treatment plan optimized from a solution space determined by a beam director of a radiotherapy system having at least four degrees of freedom of movement. The method also includes receiving imaging information acquired from a patient. The method further includes controlling the radiotherapy system to deliver the radiation treatment plan based on the imaging information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of a radiotherapy system, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of an example a beam director for the radiotherapy system of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C is an illustration comparing the solution space for a conventional C-arm radiotherapy system and the solution space for a radiotherapy system, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2A is an image showing one example of the radiotherapy system of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2B is an illustration showing one example of an articulated arm, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart setting forth steps of a process, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4A are images comparing dose distributions, optimized for conventional radiotherapy systems and a radiotherapy system according to the present disclosure, for an example treatment head and neck case.

FIG. 4B are images comparing dose distributions, optimized for conventional radiotherapy systems and a radiotherapy system according to the present disclosure, for an example lung case.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for radiation therapy that can overcome one or more of the above-described drawbacks. Among other advantages, the present disclosure describes a novel approach for delivering radiotherapy that provides superior dosimetry and reduces treatment times as compared to conventional treatment methods.

Referring particularly to FIG. 1A, the schematic diagram of a radiotherapy system 100, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, is shown. As shown, the radiotherapy system 100 may generally include a delivery system 102, an imaging system 104, and optionally a positioning system 106, each in communication with a treatment console 108. The delivery system 102 is configured to generate and direct radiation to a patient positioned on a treatment table 110, in accordance with a radiation treatment plan, where the treatment table 110 may be fixed or movable. The imaging system 104 may be configured to image the patient before, during or after treatment. Although shown in FIG. 1A as a separate system, in some embodiments, the imaging system 104 may be part of, or combined with, the delivery system 102. The positioning system 106 may be configured to position and orient the treatment table 110. In addition, the positioning system 106 may also be configured to move the patient to the imaging system 104.

The treatment console 108, or another suitable controller, may be configured to receive a radiation treatment plan from a planning workstation 112, or another location, such as a database 114, server 116 or cloud 118. Thereafter, the treatment console 108 may control the delivery system 102, imaging system 104 and optionally positioning system 106 to execute the radiation treatment plan. During treatment, the delivery system 102 builds radiation dose inside a patient to achieve dose distributions in accordance with the radiation treatment plan. The plan may include a number of treatment fields having various beam numbers, beam shapes or fluences, beam energies, beam orientations relative to the patient, and durations of exposure. In delivering the radiation treatment plan, the table 110 and patient may advantageously kept stationary, while the delivery system 102 is moved about the patient. This provides the ability to using beam angles that cover a significant portion of the 4 π solid angle about the patient, including beam directions or beam orientations posterior in relation to the patient. In addition, errors associated with physically moving the table 110 and patient may also be avoided. Optionally, the radiation treatment plan may also be executed using a combination of table 110 and delivery system 102 movements.

In one embodiment, the delivery system 102 may include a beam director 150 that is configured to irradiate a patient from a plurality of directions, as shown schematically in FIG. 1B. The beam director 150 may include a base 152 providing support for the beam director 150, and an articulated arm 154 mechanically linked to the base 152. The beam director 150 may also include a treatment head 156 that is mechanically linked to the articulated arm 154. In some implementations, the beam director 150 may form, or be part of, a robotic system that may be controlled by the delivery system 102 or treatment console 108 of FIG. 1A.

Specifically, the treatment head 156 may be configured to house a radiation source 158, such as a linear accelerator (“LINAC”), as well as various elements and hardware for controlling radiation produced by the radiation source 158. For example, the treatment head 156 may include one or more collimators 160 (e.g., a multileaf collimator), and other elements, such as filters (e.g. flattening filters), foils (e.g. scattering foils), and waveguides. The radiation source 158 may be configured to generate radiation (e.g. X rays, electrons, and so on) having energies sufficient to produce desired therapeutic or radiobiological effects, such as the destruction of malignant tissue. More specifically, the energies of the radiation produced by the radiation source 158 are less than 6 MeV, although other energies may also be possible.

Although the radiation source 158 and collimator 160 are shown in FIG. 1B to be physically separated, in some implementations, the radiation source 158 and collimator 160 may be positioned directly adjacent to one another, or within a sufficiently close distance (e.g. less than 10 mm). In particular, the collimator 160 may be positioned adjacent to an output of the radiation source 158. In addition, the treatment head 156, and elements therein may be constructed with a reduced size and dimensions (as compared to conventional radiation treatment systems). This is advantageous for reducing the overall footprint of the delivery system 102. Also, a reduced size provides access to a patient from posterior angles, which are not accessible by existing robotic systems.

During the planning stage, a radiation treatment plan is often optimized to provide a conformal radiation dose to target tissues, in accordance with dosing prescriptions, while avoiding critical structures in a patient and reducing treatment time. As described, optimized treatment planning may often require the ability to provide coplanar and non-coplanar beam configurations relative to the patient. In addition, treatment field characteristics included in the radiation treatment plan, such as beam orientation and fluence, are determined by the movement capability of particular system utilized. Therefore, in some aspects, a radiation treatment plan delivered using the radiotherapy system 100 may be optimized from a very large solution space.

Therefore, at least a portion of the beam director 150 (e.g. the treatment head 156) may have freedom of movement of at least four and up to six degrees of freedom. For instance, the articulated arm 154 may include at least two joints providing the beam director 150 flexibility of movement spanning a significant portion of a 4 π solid angle about the patient (e.g. greater than about 60% of the 4 π solid angle). The ability to cover a large portion of the solid angle represents a significant improvement over previous C-arm gantry radiotherapy systems, which typically can access around 15%-60% of the solid angle. In addition, the movement capability of the beam director 150 allows for varied source-to-tumor distances, or source-to-axis distances (“SADs”), during treatment. To provide the full ability to direct or orient beams around a patient as necessary, in some implementations, the beam director 150 may be configured to move the treatment head 156 along three spatial axes (e.g. x, y and z axes), to orient the treatment head 156 using three rotational axes (e.g. yaw, pitch and roll), or achieve movement using a combination thereof.

To visually illustrate this point, FIG. 1C shows a comparison between the solution space for a conventional C-arm gantry radiotherapy system (left side), and a solution space for a radiotherapy system of the present disclosure (right side). As appreciated from the figure, having movement capability with at least four degrees of freedom allows coverage of the full solid angle access about the patient. By contrast, the C-arm radiotherapy system is substantially limited.

The ability to cover a significant portion of the 4 π solid angle can reduce the need for deep penetration of radiation into a patient. Accordingly, the beam director 150 of FIG. 1B need not require a high-energy radiation source. Rather, the radiation source 158 may include low-energy source or accelerator configured to provide low-energy radiation (i.e. less than conventional 6 MeV). In fact, and unexpectedly, results show that lower energy radiation can provide superior performance. This may be due, in part, to the decreased size of the lateral penumbra, and increased dose compactness produced by the beam director 150. In addition, lower energy radiation reduces the size and weight requirements of the radiation source 158, and simplifies the design of the collimator 160. Furthermore, lower energies also reduce shielding requirements for the treatment head 156 and treatment room.

Referring again to FIG. 1A, the planning workstation 112 may be utilized to generate a radiation treatment plan based on dosimetric prescriptions and imaging information obtained from a subject. As described, generating the plan include selecting appropriate treatment fields, which can vary in number, duration, shape or fluence, energy and orientation relative to the patient, to optimize patient outcomes. In some applications, variable SADs may be needed to avoid an undesired compromise between field size and intensity modulation resolution. Furthermore, variable SADs allow for both larger and smaller tumors to be treated optimally. However, combining a large number of options afforded by the significant portion of a 4 π solid angle, with various radiation field parameters (e.g. duration, shape, energy, direction, fluence, SADs, and others) necessitates an optimization algorithm capable of taking into account a large solution space. To this end, the planning workstation 112 may be configured to perform an integrated beam orientation and optimization method to generate the radiation treatment plan. In some aspects, treatment field characteristics, such as beam orientation, may be optimized for both dosimetry and efficiency. As an example, an optimization approach developed by the inventors and described in PCT/US2016/020234, which is incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety, may be used, although other approaches may also be possible.

In some implementations, the planning workstation 112 may include one or more processors configured to execute non-transitory software or programming that includes steps for carrying out an optimization algorithm in a solution space determined by a radiotherapy system, and more specifically a beam director, having at least four degrees of freedom of movement. As described, such solution space may cover 60% or more of the 4 π solid angle about the patient. More specifically, the solution space covers at least 90% of the 4 π solid angle. In some implementations, at least one processor in the planning workstation 112 may include hardwired instructions or programming for carrying out an optimization algorithm, as described. Such processor would therefore be a special-purpose processor, by way of its specialized programming.

By way of non-limiting example, FIG. 2A-B illustrate one embodiment of a radiotherapy system 200, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The radiotherapy system 200 includes a beam director 202 and patient table 204. As shown, the patient table 204 is fixed. The beam director 202 includes a base 206, an articulated arm 208 and a treatment head 210. As described, the treatment head 210 may include a radiation source (i.e. a LINAC), a collimator (i.e. a multi-leaf collimator), and other elements and circuitry. The motion of beam director 202 can be controlled by a beam director controller, which can communicate with one or more operator workstations or computers. As appreciated from FIGS. 2A and 2B, the radiotherapy system 200 allows beam directions that span up to a full solid angle about the patient.

Referring specifically to FIG. 2B, the articulated arm 208 may include a number of pivoting points or joints allowing up to six degrees of freedom of movement of the beam director 202, and radiation source, about the patient. As shown, a first joint 212, a second joint 214, a third joint 216, a fourth joint 218, a fifth joint 220, and a sixth joint 222 allow rotation of the articulated arm 208 about a first axis A1, a second axis A2, a third axis A3, a fourth axis A4, a fifth axis A5, and a sixth axis A6, respectively.

Turning now to FIG. 3 , a flowchart setting forth steps of a process 300 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure is shown. The process 300, or various steps therein, may be carried on or using any suitable device, apparatus or system, such as the radiotherapy system described with reference to FIG. 1A. In some implementations, the steps of the process 300 may be performed by one or more processors or computers configured to execute programming or instructions stored in non-transitory computer readable media. The processor(s) may be include general-purpose processors, as well as application-specific processors having programming or executable instructions hardwired therein.

The process 300 may begin at process block 302 with generating a radiation treatment plan. As described, the radiation treatment plan may be optimized from a solution space that is determined by the delivery system of a radiotherapy system, and more particularly, a beam director having at least four degrees of freedom of movement. As such, an optimization algorithm may be executed at process block 302 to generate the radiation treatment plan. In particular, the optimization algorithm may be configured to select beam configurations achieving dosimetric prescriptions based on the solution space determined by the beam director. In some aspects, the optimization algorithm may optimize a dosimetry and an efficiency of delivery beams in the radiation treatment plan.

In one non-limiting example, the solution space covers at least 60% of the 4 π solid angle about the patient, and more specifically at least 90% of the 4 π solid angle. In generating the radiation treatment plan, the various movements performed or paths navigated by the beam director may also be determined. Such movements and paths may be optimized to minimize patient treatment time and treatment efficiency, as well as to avoid collisions with the patient, the patient table and other equipment present during treatment.

Then at process block 304, imaging information acquired from a patient prior to treatment may be received. Such imaging information may be in the form of radiographs, CT's, MRI, video and other imaging information. In some aspects, the radiation treatment plan may be adapted based on analysis of the imaging information received at process block 302. For example, a position, alignment or orientation of the patient may be determined based on the imaging information and used to adapt or correct the radiation treatment plan. In some aspects, correction of patient position, alignment or orientation may be performed without physically moving the patient or patient table.

Then at process block 304, the radiation treatment plan is delivered by controlling the radiotherapy system based on the imaging information. In some aspects, the radiation treatment plan may be delivered using a delivery system that is configured to selectively access a 4 π solid angle about the patient.

A report, in any form, may then be optionally generated, as indicated by process block 308. For example, the report may indicate a status or completion of treatment field(s), a treatment progress, treatment interruptions or errors, positioning of the delivery system and components therein, and so on.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrates a comparison of dose distributions for example head and neck and lung cases. The dose distributions were optimized for a conventional radiotherapy system, as indicated by label 400, and for a radiotherapy system, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, as indicated by label 402. As appreciated from the figures, the present approach provides more conformal distributions compared to the previous technique, which would results in reduced radiation exposure to non-targeted tissues.

The system and method for delivering radiotherapy described herein provide a number of advantages over existing radiotherapy systems. First, the dosimetry achievable herein is superior to methods that are limited to coplanar beam configurations. For example, a 20-40% normal organ dose reduction can be achieved using the approach described herein. Second, compared to coplanar plans generated for radiotherapy systems having C-arm gantries, treatment time can be reduced from 50 minutes to less than 15 minutes using the present approach. Third, patient secondary movements, due to table motion, can be minimized by keeping the patient static during the entire treatment. Third, optimizing the beam orientation and fluence maps together results in significantly superior dosimetry as shown in FIGS. 4A-4B. Fourth, the reduced size of the treatment head of a beam director (i.e., the LINAC treatment head) allows full access to the posterior beam angles that can often be critical to plan quality. Finally, utilizing an optimization algorithm that can address both small and large tumors provides increased flexibility for the radiotherapy system described here, which can increase the number of patients that can be treated in a day (e.g., 3-4 times more patients) as compared to conventional radiotherapy systems.

Features suitable for such combinations and sub-combinations would be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art upon review of the present application as a whole. The subject matter described herein and in the recited claims intends to cover and embrace all suitable changes in technology. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A radiotherapy system comprising: a radiation source configured to generate radiation for irradiating a patient; and a controller configured to operate the radiotherapy system to irradiate the patient in accordance with a radiation treatment plan, the radiation treatment plan being generated based on a solution space that covers at least 60% of a 4π solid angle about a patient.
 2. The radiotherapy system of claim 1, wherein the radiation treatment plan comprises a beam orientation that is posteriorly angled relative to the patient, and wherein the radiation source is configured to emit radiation along the beam orientation towards the patient at a proximal end of the beam orientation, and wherein the proximal end of the beam orientation is positioned below a table that supports the patient.
 3. The radiotherapy system of claim 2, further comprising a treatment head that includes the radiation source is configured to be positioned below a table that supports the patient to deliver radiation along the beam orientation that is posteriorly angled.
 4. The radiotherapy system of claim 3, further comprising the table that supports the patient, the table being configured to be stationary while a delivery system that includes the radiation source is moved about the patient.
 5. The radiotherapy system of claim 1, further comprising an articulated arm and a treatment head coupled to the articulated arm, the articulated arm having a first joint, and a second joint.
 6. The radiotherapy system of claim 5, wherein the treatment head has at least four degrees of freedom of movement, and wherein the solution space has been determined by the at least four degrees of freedom of movement of the treatment head.
 7. The radiotherapy system of claim 1, wherein the solution space covers at least 90% of the 4π solid angle about the patient.
 8. The radiotherapy system of claim 1, wherein the radiation treatment plan is optimized from the solution space that covers at least 60% of the 4π solid angle about the patient.
 9. The radiotherapy system of claim 1, further comprising a beam director that includes a treatment head having the radiation source, and wherein the beam director is configured to move the treatment head along three spatial axes.
 10. The radiotherapy system of claim 1, wherein the radiation treatment plan has been generated using a variable source-to-axis distance (“SAD”).
 11. A radiotherapy system comprising: an articulated arm; a radiation source coupled to the articulated arm, the radiation source being configured to generate radiation for irradiating a patient and the radiation source having at least four degrees of freedom of movement; and a controller configured to operate the radiotherapy system to irradiate the patient in accordance with a radiation treatment plan, the radiation treatment plan comprising a beam orientation that is posteriorly angled relative to the patient, the radiation source is configured to emit radiation along the beam orientation towards the patient at a proximal end of the beam orientation, and the proximal end of the beam orientation is positioned below a table that supports the patient.
 12. The radiotherapy system of claim 11, wherein the radiation treatment plan is generated based on a solution space that covers at least 60% of a 4π solid angle about a patient.
 13. The radiotherapy system of claim 12, wherein the solution space covers at least 90% of the 4π solid angle about the patient.
 14. A method comprising: determining a solution space that covers at least 60% of a 4π solid angle about a patient; generating a radiation treatment plan based on the solution space; and delivering radiation to the patient in accordance with the radiation treatment plan.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein determining the solution space is based on a beam director of a radiotherapy system having at least four degrees of freedom of movement.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein generating the radiation treatment plan based on the solution space includes optimizing the solution space to generate the radiation treatment plan, the radiation treatment plan including a plurality of different beam orientations relative to the patient.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein a first beam orientation of the plurality of different beam orientations is posteriorly angled relative to the patient, and wherein a proximal end of the beam orientation in which a radiation source emits radiation towards the patient at is positioned below a table that supports the patient.
 18. The method of claim 14, further comprising: receiving imaging information acquired from a patient; analyzing the imaging information; and adapting the radiation treatment plan, based on the analyzing of the imaging information.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein adapting the radiation treatment plan includes: determining a position, an alignment, or an orientation of the patient based on the imaging information; and correcting the radiation treatment plan based on the position, the alignment, or the orientation of the patient, without physically moving the patient.
 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the imaging information is at least one of a radiograph, a computed tomography (CT) scan, or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. 